Press Releases

Over recent months, Investigators with the San Angelo Police Department’s Street Crimes Division (SCD) have tenaciously pursued suspects reportedly involved in the distribution of narcotics in San Angelo.

Yesterday, the SCD acquired an Evidentiary Search Warrant for Lorenzo’s Tire Shop, located at 201 West 29 Street. The warrant, issued by County Judge Ben Nolan, named fifty-year-old Jose M. Ibarra to be in possession narcotics at the location.

Warrant in hand, members of the SCD and Drug Enforcement Administration (San Antonio Office) executed the warrant. Ibarra and his brother, 46-year-old Jesus Q. Ibarra, were detained without incident during the search, which resulted in the discovery of a substantial quantity of suspected Methamphetamine and Cocaine, three (3) guns along with assorted ammunition, packaging consistent with narcotics trafficking, and approximately $9,000 in U.S. Currency. Two (2) additional guns were later seized at a nearby residence.

Jose Ibarra, a convicted Felon, is facing federal gun charges pending the outcome of this ongoing investigation. At the conclusion of yesterday’s operation, he was charged with two counts of Felony 1 Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1. Jesus Ibarra was charged with one count of Felony 1 Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 and a Motion to Revoke (MTR) warrant for Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1. The brothers were placed on immigration detainers at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Just a few weeks shy of their six-month anniversary, the San Angelo Police Department’s newest specialized unit has made a measurable impact in reducing crime, despite having limited manpower and resources.

Working in concert with the Department’s Patrol, Division, Street Crimes Division, and Criminal Investigations Division, the ACU focuses their attention on the city’s most recurrent crimes that are primarily committed by repeat offenders — a small segment of San Angelo’s population.

Logging nearly one hundred fifty (150) arrests comprised of nearly three hundred thirty (330) Misdemeanor and Felony charges, the Department’s Anti-Crime Unit (ACU) has been working tirelessly to make an indelible impact in the reduction of San Angelo’s crime.

Not only has their targeted approach resulted in clearing roughly two-hundred warrants, the unit has seized over twenty (20) firearms from the hands of criminals engaged in and/or planning nefarious activities. Some of these weapon seizures and arrests have led to Federal investigations.

The Unit credits their success to having the assistance and support from their colleagues within the Department as well as having the ability to work covert operations, which allows them to avoid detection in an effort to interrupt crime in progress.

“What they have been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time is a direct result of their commitment to team work. Their colleagues on Patrol as well as the specialized divisions enable their success in combating the street-level crime that affects the citizens in this community. I feel that the ACU has only scratched the surface in our long-term goals of improving the quality of life in San Angelo. It’s exciting to think about what they might be able to accomplish if [we] had additional Officers in the Unit as well as other resources needed to sustain their mission.” — San Angelo’s Chief of Police, Frank Carter.

Street Crimes Division Tally Two More Busts to This Weeks' Haul of Narcotics, Guns, Cash

Jun 01, 2018 02:55 PM

Over recent months, members from the San Angelo Police Department’s Street Crimes Division (SCD) have been investigating a person suspected of trafficking Methamphetamine in San Angelo and the surrounding area.

Today, investigators received information that the subject was in possession of a quantity of Methamphetamine. After further investigation, SCD Investigators seized approximately four (4) ounces of suspected Methamphetamine, a loaded handgun, approximately $2,790 in U.S. Currency, and an assortment of drug paraphernalia associated with drug trafficking.

This investigation also revealed a co-conspirator. The suspects’ names are being withheld at this time as Federal charges are pending the outcome of the investigation, which is ongoing. The Department’s Patrol Division and K9 Unit assisted with today’s operation.

In a separate, unrelated investigation, SCD Investigators executed a Search and Arrest Warrant at a residence in the 1900 block of W. Beauregard.

The warrant, issued by Justice of the Peace Eddie Howard, named Rick Allen Hirst, 30, to be in possession of a quantity of Methamphetamine at the location.

Hirst and a female subject identified as Derrian E. Hammons, 25, were detained during the search, which yielded approximately two (2) ounces of suspected Methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia associated with drug trafficking.

Hirst and Hammons were charged with Felony 1 Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1. The pair was booked into the Tom Green County Jail.

The San Angelo Police Department’s Traffic Section is investigating an early morning single-vehicle motorcycle crash that occurred in the 4200 block of Sunset Drive.

Police were dispatched to the scene just after 4:45 a.m. Officers arrived and located the motorcyclist walking around in the Pier 1 Import parking lot. The man was suffering from incapacitating injuries and was transported to Shannon Medical Center for treatment where he is reported to be in critical but stable condition. He was identified as David Steinbach, 33.

A preliminary crash investigation revealed Steinbach was traveling southbound on Sunset Drive when, for an unknown reason, he applied his breaks and laid his 2012 Harley Davidson down. After Steinbach became separated from the motorcycle, the motorcycle continued traveling on its side until it collided with a nearby utility guidewire, which caused the motorcycle to flip.

Investigators are working with nearby businesses to determine if surveillance video of the crash exists.

Southbound traffic on Sunset Drive was reduced to one lane for several hours during the crash investigation.

If you have any information about the crash please call the San Angelo Police department’s Traffic Section at 325-657-4307.

This is an ongoing investigation and no other information is available for release at this time.

Citizens Spring into Action to Save Mother and Two Children from Teetering Vehicle near Loop 306 and the Glenna Overpass

Jun 01, 2018 11:21 AM

June 1, 2018 — The number seven proves to be lucky for one San Angelo family that narrowly escaped driving off a steep embankment during their morning commute.

Just after 8:00 a.m., San Angelo Police were dispatched to the 700 block of Glenna Street for the report of an occupied passenger vehicle that was dangling from the embankment just east of the Glenna Street Overpass.

When Officers arrived they located the vehicle’s occupants, a 36-year-old San Angelo mother and her two children, a 9-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy, safe and outside the vehicle thanks to the heroic actions of nearby Good Samaritans.

The woman told Officers she was driving eastbound on the Houston Harte frontage road when she swerved to avoid a collision with a red pickup truck. After her white 2012 Mazda 3 left the roadway, it traveled down the embankment and began to go over the Loop 306 retaining wall — stopping short thanks to the Mazda’s undercarriage and seven nearby heroes.

Orig-Equip, Inc. employees Reid Myers, Jacob Rodriguez, and Paul Guevarra quickly sprang into action with the help of Pattrick Davidson, employed by Allstar Pro Services, and three Premier Automotive employees, Adrian Martinez, Julio Vasquez, and Marco Vasquez. Some of the group worked together to put their body weight on the teetering vehicle’s trunk while others tethered the Mazda to Myers’s Ford F30.

The San Angelo Police Department would like to thank the group for their quick-thinking and heroic response. Their selflessness and teamwork saved the family and we are truly grateful for them.

If you have any information about the identity of the driver or red truck's whereabouts please call Officer Steven Quade at 325-657-4253.